奄奄一息 yǎn yǎn yī xī gasping

Explanation

形容气息微弱，快要断气的样子，也指生命垂危，快要死亡。

Describes the state where breathing is weak and death is imminent. It can also mean that life is in danger and death is imminent.

Origin Story

话说，三国时期，蜀国大将关羽，在攻打襄樊时，被曹魏大军围困，粮草断绝，久攻不下。关羽身负重伤，躺在床上，奄奄一息，他身边的将士们，都为他担忧不已。他们知道，如果关羽战死了，蜀国将会失去一位顶梁柱，所以他们日夜守候在关羽身边，希望能为他做些什么。然而，关羽的伤势太重了，即使是神医华佗再世，也无力回天了。关羽的呼吸越来越微弱，脸色也越来越苍白，最终，关羽还是闭上了眼睛，离开了人世。他的死，给蜀国带来了巨大的打击，也让蜀国的将士们悲痛不已。从此，蜀国的实力大不如前，最终走向衰败。

huàshuō, sānguó shíqí, shǔ guó dà jiàng guān yǔ, zài gōng dǎ xiāngfán shí, bèi cáo wèi dàjūn wéikùn, liángcǎo duànjué, jiǔ gōng bù xià. guān yǔ shēn fù zhòng shāng, tǎng zài chuáng shàng, yǎn yǎn yī xī, tā shēn biān de jiàngshì men, dōu wèi tā dānyōu bù yǐ. tāmen zhīdào, rúguǒ guān yǔ zhàn sǐ le, shǔ guó jiāng huì shī qù yī wèi dǐng liáng zhù, suǒyǐ tāmen rì yè shǒuhòu zài guān yǔ shēn biān, xīwàng néng wèi tā zuò xiē xiē me. rán'ér, guān yǔ de shāngshì tài zhòng le, jíshǐ shì shén yī huá tuó zàishì, yě wúlì huítiān le. guān yǔ de hūxī yuè lái yuè wēiruò, liǎnsè yě yuè lái yuè cāngbái, zuìzhōng, guān yǔ háishì bì shàng le yǎnjing, líkāi le rénshì. tā de sǐ, gěi shǔ guó dài lái le jùdà de dǎjī, yě ràng shǔ guó de jiàngshì men bēitòng bù yǐ. cóngcǐ, shǔ guó de shí lì dà bù rú qián, zuìzhōng zǒuxiàng shuāibài.

During the Three Kingdoms period in China, Guan Yu, a great general of the Shu Han Kingdom, was besieged by the Cao Wei forces during the attack on Xiangfan. The siege lasted for a long time, and supplies ran out. Guan Yu was seriously wounded and lay in bed, near death. His soldiers were deeply worried. They knew that if Guan Yu died, the Shu Kingdom would lose a pillar of strength, so they guarded him day and night, hoping to do something for him. However, Guan Yu's injuries were too severe. Even if Hua Tuo, the legendary physician, were alive, he could not have saved him. Guan Yu's breathing became weaker and weaker, his face paler and paler, and finally, he closed his eyes and passed away. His death was a devastating blow to the Shu Kingdom, and his soldiers were inconsolable. From then on, Shu's strength declined, and it eventually fell into decline.

Usage

多用于形容人临近死亡的状态。

duō yòng yú xiáoróng rén lín jìn sǐwáng de zhuàngtài

Mainly used to describe the state of a person who is about to die.

Examples

• 他已经奄奄一息了，随时可能离开人世。

  tā yǐjīng yǎn yǎn yī xī le, suíshí kěnéng líkāi rénshì

  He is dying, and may leave the world at any time.

• 战士在战场上奄奄一息，却依然紧紧握着武器。

  zhànshì zài zhànchǎng shàng yǎn yǎn yī xī, què yīrán jǐnjǐn wòzhe wǔqì

  The soldier is dying on the battlefield, but still holds his weapon tightly.

Related Idioms

• 气息奄奄

• 危在旦夕

• 命悬一线

Opposite Idioms

• 生龙活虎

• 精神抖擞

• 朝气蓬勃